The Joy Formidable, February 1 2011, Bournemouth Old Firestation

Welsh trio bring a riot to the south coast. What rock crisis?


For indie and rock fans of a more mainstream bent, the start of 2011 was overwhelmingly depressing. Very few “proper” rock albums finding a release, Mumford & Sons the only so-called “rock band” in the end of year charts (despite them releasing their album in 2009 and, yknow, being a folk band)- the future looks grim.

So it’s easy to see why The Joy Formidable’s album The Big Roar has been feted so. But far from failing to live up to the hype, their riotous show makes every ounce of it justified. Rather than come out all-guns-blazing, Ritzy Bryan and co build up with seven-minute album opener “Everching Spectrum of a Lie”, just as effective live.

From here, TJF are playing at hurricane force. Ritzy, pixie-like with blonde bob bouncing everywhere, controls it beautifully. After every earthquake riff and solo, she responds with a huge grin. That’s what’s so great about them: they’re here to remind people that music is meant to be fun, and we need that right now.

The cold venue is warmed fast by a responsive crowd, with tracks like “Heavy Abacus”, “Buoy” and “cradle” set off the moshers, all pawing for Bryan’s tiny frame. Every song is like a set climax- not always a good thing, as the set hardly flows. But by the time explosive closer “Whirring” comes around, this just doesn’t matter. Tell the world: rock music is back...